Mechanical stoker



June 9, 1931. a. w. RUGGLES 1,809,315

MECHANICAL STOKER Filed Jan. '7, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 h INVENTOR. mg GE/JPr/ 21 a yae fags, Yes

ATTORNEY June 9, 1931. G. w. RUGGLES 1,

MECHANICAL STOKER Filed Jan. 7, 1922 s Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I l INVENTOR. 62/662 1 21 27??? 2.25 9763.

ATTORNEY? June 9, 1931. G. w. RUGGLES MECHANICAL STOKER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. '7, 1922 i UNETEDFSTA Patented June". 9, 1931 TES PAT

GILBERT AYNE RUeeLEs, or; YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO,

. MECHA IC L s'roKEa Application filed January 7, 1922. Serial m5. 521604.

The present invention, relating as indicated, to. mechanical stokers, is directed to certain-improved mechanical features foruse in stokers, and more particularly, to. one having both an underfeed and an overfeed section of grate area. Afurther object of the invention is the provision of meansfor such a stoker for more efficiently supplying the air an d fuel to the grate area and for reducing the wear on the operating parts of the mechanism. 'To theaccomplishment ofthe foregoing-and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. l l

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mecha nism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of va- IlOllS...1Il6Ch&Il1C&l forms 1n,wh1ch the pr1n'-' ciple of: the invention may be used. i

In said annexed drawings v Y Fig. l'is a central vertical section through a single unit or'retort forming part of my improved stoker; Fig. 2 shows a series of such units, some in front elevation; and some in vertical transverse section, the first two units at the left'being' thus in elevation, theplane of the third unit being indicated by the line aa, Fig. 1., and the planes of the sections of the fourth, fifth and sixth units by the lines .bb cc, andd'd, respectively, Fig. 1 ;'Fig.

3 is a .plan View of two such unitsor retorts,

showing the arrangement of the grates Figs.

4: and 5 are longitudinal sectional views on a somewhat larger scale of theram mechanism for feeding coal to the retort. Figure 4 being a section taken along the line 4:4 shown in Figure-6 lookingfiinthe direction of the arrows; and Fig. 6is a partial cross: section and end view of said ram mechanism taken along the line 66 shown inFiguref5. i

In Fig. 1, there is shown,'as indicated, but a single retort of a furnace between the front Wall 1 and bridge wall 20f which is mounted' a mechanical stoker grate 3, composed of the usual plates and bars, and built upon a framework of steel forms. The. grate area of this stoker is formed in several parts of which the main part 4 is the underfeedsec tion to which the co'al is supplied through a port 5 in the front wall 1, by means of a ram 6. This ram is in the form of a hollow boxof rectangular cross-section and "is reciprocated V by, means of connecting rod 7, through con nections presently tobe described, said rod being operated from the crank-shaft 8, that is mounted exteriorly of the stoker, and reciprocation of the same serving to forcecoal flowing into itspath from the hopper 9 to the grate section 4. The ram 6is mounted upon an adjustable wearing plate 10, and due to its I rectangular form, it will be noted that such ram has a fiat bottom' and vertical sides,

whereby all the Wear is taken on the bottom of such 'adjustable'plate. Accordinglyfln order to take up for wear, and also to prevent sifting of fine coal, it is only necessary to (place a shim or liner between such plate and its supporting frame, or if the plate becomes 2 too thin, then to substitute a thicker plate.

The platel O is illustrated in Fig. 1 as being Y supported directly beneath the reciprocating ram 6 through the enga t of its side edges with the top of spaced bars or, beams 10a which form part of the rigid frame struc ture of the grate. Obviously screws (not shown) or other suitable fastening means may be utilized to removably secure the plate -10 in position so as to permit the removal 1 thereof to effect the adjustments noted above.

Mountedon said plate 10, so as to be adjustable'longitudinally of the port 5 is a trans verse bar 12of triangular cross-section that provides the resistance necessary to cause the coal to properly pack.

Mounted in the forward end of the ram box 6,is an auxiliary ram or poker 11 which serves toclear the ram 'of tramp iron or other foreign. matter in the coal, and also acts to relievethe. strain imposed upon the ram by the packing of the coal in the throat of the retort. gThisauXiliary ram is directly pivotally connected to rod 7 and a safety link 13, which is designed to break under 'a' predetermined, pressure before a dangerous strain is placed upon the mechanism, connects said auxiliary ramto the main ram or box 6, asbest shown in Fig.

75.. such figure the link 13 is shown formed the connection between the main and aux-- iliary rams, the object thereof being to cause the auxiliary ram to act in advance" ofthe rocate.

main ram in the forward movement of the latter to break up the material to be moved by the ram. Accordingly, if an obstacle be encountered by said main ram, or for any other reason the pressure became excessive, said link member will break, thus leaving the main ram stationary, and only the aux iliary ram or poker will continue to recip- The latter being smaller will dislodge the material packed before it and will continue to supply a certain amount of fuel pending replacement of the link.

Associated with the main portion .of the grate area is a second reciprocable rain 20, the coal engaging portions 21 of which are hollow, and are thus cooled by the incoming air for the retort as'will be hereinafter described.

Located at the lower end of the underfeed portion of the stoker is an overfeed section 25, whichmaybe reciprocated slightly by means of a rod 26, pivoted lever 27, and rod 29, which latter is connected to a bracket 30 depending from such. second ram 20.

The operation of this overfeed section 25 of the grate area is thus ei fected at the same time that the ram'20 is operatedlto supply fuel to the underfeed section of the grate.

Beyond and below this cverfeed section 25 of the grate area, is a frame 35, mounted on rollers 36, to which are attached dump grates 37, each tier provided at its lower or rearward endwith knife bar '38 for .cut-

ting any clinker that does not fall clear. Each dumping grate is operated by means ofarod 39, and'power cylinder :40, and may become a live grate area whenv necessary,

There is a main air supply duct 41 (Fig.

2) from which the air is admitted to each section or unit of the apparatus tlirou'ghda separate, damper-controlled air-pipe- 42. Each retort, it will be understood is independent-of the other in'this respect, the space beneath being partitioned off by vertical plates to form closed chambers 43 into which .such grate sections, the bottom of such passage being formed by a plate 49 and its top by Wearing plate 10 and the plate that forms the body of the second ram 20; while the air for the underfeed portion 4 of the grate area is supplied from such air chamber 43 through tuyeres 47 that pass around the passage 46- on each side thereof.

The operating means for the fuel supplying rams consist of a crankshaft 60, the cranks 8 whereof have heretofore-been referred to as being connected with the several rams through rods 7. Gears 61 are'keyed to either end of crankshaft 60, and below the latter is a powershaft 62, provided with gears 63 that mesh with such gears 61. The gears 63 and 61 are intermeshed in such manner that the crank for any particular retort will be in advance or behind the next adjacent cranksby a number of degrees equal to 360 divided'by the total number of retorts in the stoker. Each connecting rod7, in addition to being connected with'the corresponding ram 6, as has already been described, is provided with a depending arm'66, that operates the upper end of a lever 67,'pivotally connected at its lower end to a fixed portion of the frame structure through a second link 68. Through the above means, the crank in addition to driving the ram 6, also drives the ram 20. Lever 67 is pivotallyconnected at an intermediate point to a block 69 slidably held in ,a guide 7 O that forms the front or free'end of a rod71, the other end of which isattached to bracket 30 on the pusher plate 20 that with projections 21 constitutes such'second ram. Said ram 2O is moved to its respective positions through breaking rods 72 screwed into the respective ends of block 69, and having heads 72a adapted to engage with'stops-73 in guide'70. A series of removable clips 74, mounted on the rod 71 between the outer stop 73 and the head 7 2a onthe end of the corresponding rod 72 serve to provide forthe adjustment of the stroke of the ram. The

rods 72 are designed as safety links, and are adapted to break if the'ram 20 meets with too great an amount ofresistanoe.

The bottom ofthe frame 80, which carries the overfeed grate 25, comprises a sliding gateor damper 81, for regulating the supply of air to the dump grates 37, the airbeing supplied through-the air passage 46 previously described. This gate or damper 81 may be controlled by means of a. rod 82 having an exterior handle 83.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that.

tort, and similarly, each retort is provided. with a separate air supply and separate means for controlling it. In addition to the separate fuel and air supplying means for the retorts, the operation of the fuel supply ing means, that is the rams, is effected by entirely separate means, already described," and shown in Fig.2. The operating means for the various rams include separate crank-' shafts for each retort so arranged that the pull on the powershaft and on the engin is as uniform as possible.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being' made as regards the mechanism hereindisclosed, provided the means stated by any of the'following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention Y i 1. In mechanism of the character described, the combination ofa retort, an in-- clined grate, a fuel supplying ram movably associated with said grate to form the intermediate inclined retort fioor therebetween, said ram being openbelow and a shallow inclined air supply conduit disposed beneath said ram, said conduit being providedwith openings in its upper wall allowing air to contact and cool said ram.

2. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of a plurality of retorts, an inclined grate adjacent each of said retorts, an air cooled movable ram mounted adjacent each of said grates and adapted to form the intermediate inclined retort floor therebetween, a shallow inclined air conduit beneath each of said rains for cooling the same, a single power shaft mounted exteriorly of said retorts, a crank-shaft operated by said power shaft, and means connecting said rams with said powershaft, said means producing successive action of said rams."

3. In mechanism vof the, character described, the combination of a plurality of retorts, an inclined grate adjacent each of said retorts, an air cooled movable ram mounted 5' adjacent each of said grates and adapted to form the intermediate inclined retort floor therebetween, a shallow inclined air conduit beneath each of said rams for coolingthe same and means adapted'to operate said rams successively,- the operation of said rams starting at predetermined angular intervals in the rotation of said powershaft.

4:. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of a series of independent retorts, mechanically operated last named ram.

grates in each of said retorts, acommon drive for said grates, adjustable connection between each of said grates and said drive, and separate air supplying means for each of said retorts. V I

5. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of a series of independent retorts, mechanically operated grates in each of said retorts, a common drive for said grates, adjustable connection between each of said grates and said 'drive,

a separate air supplying means connectedto each of said retorts, and separate fuel supplying means for each of said retorts.

, 6. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of an inclined underfeed grate, a reciprocable ram adapted to supply fuel at the upper end .of said grate, a second reciprocable ram located centrally ofsaid grate adapted to form the intermediate inclined retort floor therewith, and to advance fuel therealong, a shallow inclinedair conduitbeneath said second ram, and air ports for cooling said last named ram.

. 7. In mechanism .of the character described, the combination of an inclined underfeed grate, a reciprocable ram adapted to supply fuel at the upper end of said grate, a second reciprocable ram located centrally of said grate adapted to form the interme diate inclined retort floor therewith, and to f advance fuel therealong, said rams being opderfeed grate, a reciprocable ram adapted to supply fuel at the upper end of said grate, a

second reciprocable ram located centrally of said grate adapted to form the intermediate inclined retort floor therewith, and to advance fuel therealong, a shallow inclined air conduit beneath said second ram, and an overfeed grate at the lower end of said underfeed grate, and air ports for cooling said 1 9. In mechanism of the character described, the combination of an inclined underfeed grate, a reciprocable ram, adapted to supply fuel at the upper end of saidgrate, a second reciprocable ram beneath said grate adapted to form the intermediate inclined retort floor therewith, and to advance fuel therealong, a reciprocable o-verfeed grate at the lower end of said underfeed grate, said two rams and said overfeed grate being operatively interconnected, an incl ned air conduit beneath said second ram for cooling the same and said overfeed grate.

Signed by me, this 28th day of December, 1921.

GILBERT WAYNE RUGGLES. 

